Selected service points of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will now be open on Saturdays for the rest of September, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: UIF online services frozen in court battle
According to a government statement, the decision to extend operating hours at UIF service points was taken due to an increased demand for real-time services.
It follows an interim indictment issued by the Pretoria High Court at the end of August, which prevented a service provider from implementing a new contract for support and maintenance services to the uFiling platform.
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The uFiling platform is used by clients and employers to apply for UIF benefits although it is not connected to the main UIF system which adjudicates and processes claims.
‘Due to the uFiling platform not having any support or maintenance at this time, its services was suspended. The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has since the suspension of uFiling processed more than 181 000 claims at service points around the country, totalling a payout of R419 607 185,’ the Department of Employment and Labour said.
Operating hours will be extended from 7:20am to 4pm at UIF service points in the following areas:
- Western Cape: Cape Town, Paarl, Mitchells Plain and Bellville
- North West: Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Lichtenburg, Klerksdorp, Vryburg, Christiana, Brits, Taung and Rustenburg
- Mpumalanga: Emalahleni, Secunda, Middleburg, Malelane and Mbombela
- KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay
- Eastern Cape: Gqeberha, East London and Qonce
‘Through queue management, monitoring of operations and staff repurposing the UIF has been able to adequately handle claim volumes around the country,’ the department added.
‘The Fund is confident that by extending working hours it will be able to maintain the status quo whilst developing alternative online solutions for clients and employers.’
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Also read:
The role of the UIF in countering South Africa’s rising unemployment rate
Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht / Gallo Images
